The Southern Surveyor is the Marine National Facility research vessel operated by CSIRO and is regularly used by Australian Museum staff to explore the biodiversity of Australian waters. A variety of fish, molluscs, crustaceans and other invertebrates are held in the Museum collections from these expeditions.

Prince William has studied marine pollution and its effects on coral reefs and indicated that his visit to CSIRO aboard the Southern Surveyorwas a 'personal highlight' of his visit.